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  • Animax Asia signs output deal with Japanese anime studio Gonzo

    MUMBAI: Animax has sealed a new long term output deal with Japan‘s leading animation studio Gonzo to bring the latest edgy animation to Asia.


    With this, Asian viewers will now get the chance to watch anime programmes from Gonzo soon after viewers in Japan. The deal commences immediately for Animax.


    Animax vice-president Programming and Production Betty Tsui says, “We are delighted to have a strong partner like Gonzo as the studio‘s original creative direction is in sync with Animax‘s overall strategy to provide world-class anime entertainment for the youth of today. With the recent launch of the Animax refresh campaign, the timing of this output deal is a fantastic opportunity for both Animax and Gonzo to showcase more unique anime that wows and inspires viewers.”


    Responsible for some of the most innovative and stylish animation using 2D and 3D computer graphic techniques, Gonzo has brought to viewers around the world extremely popular titles like Samurai 7, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Hellsing. The synergy of Gonzo and Animax is apparent as both partners strive to provide the youth and young adult market with varied and quality programme offerings that wow audiences.


    With a reach of over 25 million households across Asia 24 hours a days, the new partnership represents enormous potential for Gonzo to showcase its new titles and become a household name in the Asian region.


    Rolling out the output deal is the spectacular animation creation, Trinity Blood. Having premiered first and exclusively in Hong Kong on 1 June 2006, Trinity Blood is broadcast on Animax every Thursday at 10 pm.

  • Animax Asia signs output deal with Japanese anime studio Gonzo

    Animax Asia signs output deal with Japanese anime studio Gonzo

    MUMBAI: Animax has sealed a new long term output deal with Japan’s leading animation studio Gonzo to bring the latest edgy animation to Asia.

    With this, Asian viewers will now get the chance to watch anime programmes from Gonzo soon after viewers in Japan. The deal commences immediately for Animax.

    Animax vice-president Programming and Production Betty Tsui says, “We are delighted to have a strong partner like Gonzo as the studio’s original creative direction is in sync with Animax’s overall strategy to provide world-class anime entertainment for the youth of today. With the recent launch of the Animax refresh campaign, the timing of this output deal is a fantastic opportunity for both Animax and Gonzo to showcase more unique anime that wows and inspires viewers.”

    Responsible for some of the most innovative and stylish animation using 2D and 3D computer graphic techniques, Gonzo has brought to viewers around the world extremely popular titles like Samurai 7, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Hellsing. The synergy of Gonzo and Animax is apparent as both partners strive to provide the youth and young adult market with varied and quality programme offerings that wow audiences.

    With a reach of over 25 million households across Asia 24 hours a days, the new partnership represents enormous potential for Gonzo to showcase its new titles and become a household name in the Asian region.

    Rolling out the output deal is the spectacular animation creation, Trinity Blood. Having premiered first and exclusively in Hong Kong on 1 June 2006, Trinity Blood is broadcast on Animax every Thursday at 10 pm.

  • ‘The Orange County’ Season II on Zee Cafe from 30 June

    ‘The Orange County’ Season II on Zee Cafe from 30 June

    MUMBAI: Zee Café will unveil the second season of The O.C. (Orange County) this month. The second season will premiere on 30 June at 10:00 pm.

    Announcing the launch, Zee Café business head Neil Chakravarti said, “The first season of The O.C. on Café was immensely popular. We received innumerable requests from loyal viewers across the country to air the second season and we are indeed happy to be able to respond to those requests, and to bring it exclusively on Zee Café.”

    The first season saw Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie) fall in love with the girl next door, Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) Their romance, however, is ill-fated, constantly tested by the young lovers’ inability to escape from their pasts. At the end of the season, Ryan returned to Chino to protect his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Theresa from her abusive ex-boyfriend.

    As the tumultuous summer comes to an end, both Seth (Adam Brody) and Ryan must make decisions on their futures in The O.C. and their futures with Summer (Rachel Bilson) and Marissa. And the adults in town face fresh challenges as well, with Caleb’s past coming back to haunt him causing big problems for Sandy, and Jimmy’s fortunes taking a turn. Meanwhile, Julie and Kirsten are thrown together in a surprising and contentious alliance.

  • Tangerine Global inks HDTV entertainment deal with Pennisula Hotels

    MUMBAI: Tangerine Global, a global player in high-definition television (HDTV) programming for the five-star hospitality marketplace, has been selected by luxury group The Peninsula Hotels to provide the media company‘s premier HDTV entertainment services to its hotels.


    The contract makes Tangerine Global‘s service available as early as this summer to Peninsula‘s deluxe properties worldwide, including its flagship hotel, The Peninsula Hong Kong and The Peninsula Chicago. Tangerine Global will present its offering of programming-spanning travel, fashion, lifestyle, adventure and sports-to The Peninsula Hotels‘ discerning guests.


    “Our goal is to deliver a compelling entertainment experience to our guests,” says The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd GM R&D Fraser Hickox, “In addition to its high-definition entertainment on demand, Tangerine Global also offers a blend of satellite, off-air and server delivered content that creates a highly individual mix of programming tailored to each hotel‘s specific needs.”


    “Today‘s well traveled and sophisticated consumer demands more in the way of entertainment experiences,” adds Tangerine Global CEO Stuart Levin. “We pride ourselves on offering the widest selection of high-quality entertainment programming appealing to the tastes of savvy travelers the world over. We are very pleased to work with The Peninsula Hotels as we define a new level of entertainment experience for their guests who demand the very best.”

  • Casbaa, MPA join hands for content protection in the digital age

    SINGAPORE: With technology booming in the television world, one matter that needs immediate attention is protection of pay-TV content. Digital transmission is becoming the norm in the Asia-Pacific pay-television industry. Soon it will become the dominant means of handling content within the home and hence content protection becomes a critical issue for the entire industry.


    The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (Casbaa) technical committee chair and Zieland Group of Companies (New Zealand) chief technology officer Karl K Rossiter threw light on the technical approach to content protection.


    “Content providers, programme distributors and cable/satellite platform operators need to protect their revenue streams and avoid unauthorised distribution across the internet. This requires technical intervention and the adoption of a united approach to managing the digital output from future generations of set-top boxes (STBs). Manufacturers of those STBs and the chipsets that fill them need to know the technical controls that will be prescribed by platform operators and programme suppliers to protect content. To this end, Casbaa Technical Committee, with assistance from the Motion Picture Association (MPA), has taken up this challenge,” he informed.


    Casbaa Technical Committee has been working in close association with the Asia-Pacific pay-television industry since 2004 and through a formal consultation process with Casbaa members, it has compiled a series of recommendations covering content protection and technical approaches to managing the digital output from new STBs.


    Rossiter said, “The committee‘s approach has been to acknowledge standards for technologies developed by other relevant industry organisations and to incorporate input from manufacturers and operators. The recommendations provide for companies to choose one of a number of technologies, consistent with their commercial interests. On the other hand, the recommendations also incorporate provisions to take account of new technological developments.”


    Casbaa Technical Committee Recommendations on content protection are as follows:


    For Video-On-Demand (VOD), Pay-Per-View (PPV), Pay TV and other encrypted digital programming:


    1) The ability of a STB to receive and honor usage rules signaling from the broadcaster that may include copy control, redistribution control, content output resolution controls, and content output enabling controls;


    2) The ability of a STB to map usage rules signaling information from the broadcast to the appropriate equivalent signaling in any content outputs;


    3) A standardised set of allowed digital content outputs for display purposes and for digital home networking have been identified.


    4) A standardised set of allowed analog content outputs has been identified


    For retransmission of unencrypted programming, for example, free-to-air broadcasts, over multi-channel broadcast systems such as cable and satellite:


    1) A method for controlling the unauthorised redistribution of such programming comprising one of the following:


    i. Encryption of the retransmitted free-to-air broadcasts, or other unencrypted programming, over the satellite, cable or “other” system and use of the same redistribution control solution established for VOD, PPV, PayTV and other encrypted digital programming; or


    ii. In consultation with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), implementation of a Redistribution Control protection regime that (a) provides a method to signal Redistribution Control in the unencrypted broadcast; (b) includes associated receiver requirements to look for the Redistribution Control signal and abide by it in accordance with output rules, compliance rules and robustness rules; (c) may be defined by an appropriate standards developing organization and (d) is established and required by an appropriate authority.

  • The more or less challenge – the role of outsourcing

    The more or less challenge – the role of outsourcing

     SINGAPORE: With the broadcast industry rapidly going digital, broadcasters need to provide new services on their existing cost bases to achieve operational efficiencies to drive in business changes.

    So, besides other seminars on going digital, the third day’s afternoon session at Broadcast Asia focused on how broadcasters need to focus on their core competencies by outsourcing in other areas.

    Some of the important issues that were raised included – why outsourcing is relevant to the broadcast industry and what benefits it can bring. And most importantly what are some of the ways in which outsourcing can be delivered.

    Throwing light on the rapidly accelerating changes in the broadcast industry, Siemens Business Services Media head Saleha Williams said, “Broadcasters have to grow out of their traditional operating models which are no longer working, because of rapid technological changes and business models. Outsourcing can also save us from various revenue pressures which have come in with lots of competition with more platforms, audience fragmentation and increasing churn and new advertising models.”
    The seminar brought out five core elements to the technology change

    o Broadband

    o Mobile

    o PVR

    o HDTV

    o Increasing competition from gaming and other forms of non broadcast entertainment

    Some of the regulatory-led change are:

    o Digital broadcasting (analogue switch off)

    o Deregulation

    Willaims gave out some pointers on how outsourcing can help broadcasters

    o Outsourcing in broadcast markets as much about innovation as cost savings.

    o Solving new problems, such as distribution to emerging platforms.

    o Outsourcers act as a catalyst, enabling broadcasters to transform ways of working. At heart of every outsourcing relationship.

    o Economies of scale, improved operational effectiveness and off shoring.

    o Typically savings of 20-30%, but depends totally on the nature of the service.

    Williams also listed out some of the benefits achieved by outsourcing other parts of the world.

    o Outsourcing in broadcast markets as much about innovation as cost savings.

    o Solving new problems, such as distribution to emerging platforms.

    o Outsourcers act as a catalyst, enabling broadcasters to transform ways of working.

    · Significant technology investment needed to compete in changing broadcast market.

    o Outsourcers can help broadcasters smooth their investment profile.

    o Pay an annual charge i.e. from capex to opex.

    o Outsourcers and their partners provide greater specialisation.

    o Apply learning from working with other broadcast organisations.

    o Sometimes easier to measure and incentivise services provided externally.

    o At heart of every outsourcing relationship .Economies of scale, improved operational effectiveness and off shoring.

    o Typically savings of 20-30%, but depends totally on the nature of the service.

    o Allows broadcaster to concentrate more effectively on its business strategy.

    o Reduces the level of management attention required for non core activities.

    o Hands problem over to a third party.

    · Driven by cost savings and risk transfer / reduction.

    · Embeds outsource provider in broadcaster’s organisation.

    o Provides transformational change.

    o Driven by risk sharing / reduction and cost savings.

    o Flexibility

    Three Principal Issues

    o Not understood initial cost base or level of savings achievable in house

    o Not factored all costs into deal e.g. transition, management and termination

    o Maintain outsourced services in house (pay twice over)

    o Efficiencies change over time i.e. cost efficient process in 2006 may be an expensive one by 2010

    Reasons and Observations

    o Both actual falls and perception that service levels have fallen are important

    o Broadcaster culture – problems need solving at once even if not “on air”

    o Require realistic service levels to be agreed and communicated to all users

    o Broadcaster and outsourcer need to understand each other’s business drivers

    o Need to protect competitive strengths and strategic identity. For instance, a company outsourcing technology may decide to keep enough of its technology strategists in house to be in control of its technology vision.

  • Sony takes Dish TV basic tier pricing up by Rs 38

    NEW DELHI: Subhash Chandra‘s Dish TV has increased the price of its basic tier of DTH service by Rs 38 after Sony-Discovery One Alliance came on board earlier this month.


    The basic tier would now cost a consumer Rs 180, plus taxes. Earlier it was priced at Rs 142, exclusive of taxes.


    The new pricing is a fair indicator as to the money that Dish TV is paying One Alliance for its channels per subscriber.


    However, AXN has been kept out of the basic tier, which includes all the other One Alliance fare and the likes of Zee TV, HBO and three sports channels (ESPN, Star Sports and Ten Sports).


    Dish TV‘s other packages include Dish Plus package, which comes packed with a wide selection of national and international channels at Rs 125 per month and offers channels like Zee Studio, HBO, TCM, MCM, Reality TV; Dish Bioscope, which features Zee Premier, Zee Action, Zee Classic and Pakistani film channel Filmazia and costs Rs 55 per month. News is packaged in Dish News with Zee Business, Euro News, Euro Sports News, NDTV 24×7, CNBC TV18, Awaaz and CNN Headlines News. The cost: Rs 60 per month.


    Dish Pick is an a-la-carte package that allows subscribers to pick and choose extra regional channels. Two channels come for Rs 30 per month, five channels for Rs 50 per month and all regional channels come for Rs 100 per month. (All the prices listed here are exclusive of taxes.) Channels included in this package include Zee TV, Sahara One Zee Punjabi, ETV – Rajastan, ETV – UP, ETV – Bihar, Geo TV, Zee Telugu, Jaya TV, Jeevan TV, Akash Bangla, Zee Bangla, Zee Gujarati and Marathi, India TV and NDTV India.


    Also Read:
    Sony-Discovery reach agreement with Dish TV


    SET-Discovery announces sign-on to Dish TV

  • Sony takes Dish TV basic tier pricing up by Rs 38

    Sony takes Dish TV basic tier pricing up by Rs 38

    NEW DELHI: Subhash Chandra’s Dish TV has increased the price of its basic tier of DTH service by Rs 38 after Sony-Discovery One Alliance came on board earlier this month.

    The basic tier would now cost a consumer Rs 180, plus taxes. Earlier it was priced at Rs 142, exclusive of taxes.

    The new pricing is a fair indicator as to the money that Dish TV is paying One Alliance for its channels per subscriber.

    However, AXN has been kept out of the basic tier, which includes all the other One Alliance fare and the likes of Zee TV, HBO and three sports channels (ESPN, Star Sports and Ten Sports).

    Dish TV’s other packages include Dish Plus package, which comes packed with a wide selection of national and international channels at Rs 125 per month and offers channels like Zee Studio, HBO, TCM, MCM, Reality TV; Dish Bioscope, which features Zee Premier, Zee Action, Zee Classic and Pakistani film channel Filmazia and costs Rs 55 per month. News is packaged in Dish News with Zee Business, Euro News, Euro Sports News, NDTV 24×7, CNBC TV18, Awaaz and CNN Headlines News. The cost: Rs 60 per month.

    Dish Pick is an a-la-carte package that allows subscribers to pick and choose extra regional channels. Two channels come for Rs 30 per month, five channels for Rs 50 per month and all regional channels come for Rs 100 per month. (All the prices listed here are exclusive of taxes.) Channels included in this package include Zee TV, Sahara One Zee Punjabi, ETV – Rajastan, ETV – UP, ETV – Bihar, Geo TV, Zee Telugu, Jaya TV, Jeevan TV, Akash Bangla, Zee Bangla, Zee Gujarati and Marathi, India TV and NDTV India.

  • E&M industry globally to touch $1.8 trillion in 2010: PricewaterhouseCoopers report

    E&M industry globally to touch $1.8 trillion in 2010: PricewaterhouseCoopers report

    MUMBAI: The media and entertainment industry as a whole is on an upscale growth curve. The global entertainment and media (E&M) industry has entered a solid growth phase and will increase at a 6.6 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to $1.8 trillion in 2010, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2006-2010, released today.Interestingly, the report indicates that the Asia Pacific will remain the fastest-growing region in this industry, led by explosive growth in the People’s Republic of China and India, while US remains the largest but growing at a slow pace.

    New revenue streams are growing rapidly, the growth of physical formats has slowed, and availability of licensed digital distribution now provides consumers alternatives to piracy, the report says.

    Digital technologies, chiefly broadband internet and mobile, are becoming established and increasingly lucrative distribution channels that are changing the way consumers acquire entertainment and media content. Global spending via online and wireless channels reached $19 billion in 2005 and will increase to $67 billion by 2010, the Outlook says. Digital technologies consist of five categories: online rental subscriptions and digital streaming in filmed entertainment, licensed digital downloads and mobile music in recorded music, online and wireless video games, electronic books, and online casino gaming.

    “Virtually every segment of the entertainment and media industry is shifting from physical distribution to digital distribution of content,” said PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Entertainment & Media Practice global leader Wayne Jackson. “As this shift continues, we see more revenue opportunities for entertainment and media companies. So while physical distribution of content is declining, that decline will be offset somewhat by digital distribution, which is driving and creating new growth opportunities.”

    “We expect that Asia Pacific will remain the fastest-growing region for the industry, reflecting both the underlying economic growth and local developments and initiatives. The growth will be led by double-digit increases in Internet, TV distribution, casino and other regulated gaming and video games,” said PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Entertainment & Media Practice Asia Pacific leader Marcel Fenez. “Significantly, we also expect that the People’s Republic of China will pass Japan in 2009 to become the largest market in Asia Pacific.”

    Key Drivers of Global E&M Industry
    Continued expansion in the broadband household universe will be a major growth driver, and wireless subscriber growth and rollout of next generation handsets and high-speed wireless networks will stimulate mobile markets. In 2005, the broadband universe totaled 187 million households, up from only 30 million in 2001. By 2010, there will be an additional 246 million broadband households, bringing the total to 433 million globally.

    The number of people with a wireless telephone subscription is also growing rapidly, with a total of 1.8 billion globally in 2005. That figure will rise to 2.8 billion by 2010, adding one billion potential customers to mobile content during the next five years.

    Although piracy still cannibalizes sales in many markets, its incremental impact on legitimate sales will lessen. Industry trade associations, greater government action, the advent of convenient licensed alternatives and improved economic conditions are working to limit piracy.

    In the TV distribution market in Asia Pacific, piracy remains a significant problem showing no signs of improvement. However, for the overall E&M industry, incremental losses to piracy are slowing, which will have a positive impact on the overall end-user market.

    Global Advertising -Olympic Games and Fifa World Cups to Create Growth Spikes
    Global advertising will increase at a 6.2 per cent CAGR during the forecast period, to $521 billion in 2010 from $385 billion in 2005. Growth improvement achieved during the past two years will be sustained through 2008, but more moderate increases are projected during 2009-10 as the current economic recovery in many countries begins to falter. The Internet will remain the fastest-growing advertising medium, at an 18.1 per cent CAGR to $52 billion in 2010. The Internet will constitute nearly 10 per cent of global advertising in 2010 compared with less than 3 per cent in 2002.

    Growth by Region – U.S. Remains Largest but Slowest-Growing “The U.S. remains the largest E&M market, growing at a 5.6 per cent compound annual growth rate reaching $726 billion in 2010,” said James O’Shaughnessy, U.S. Leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers Entertainment & Media practice. “Video games and the Internet will be the fastest-growing segments, with compound annual increases of 8.9 and 8.4 per cent, respectively. Video games will be propelled by next generation console games and rapid growth in online and wireless games, while increased broadband penetration will enhance Internet access spending and stimulate online advertising.”

    EMEA, the second largest market, will expand at a 6.1 per cent CAGR to reach $580 billion in 2010. Led by Russia, Central and Eastern Europe will again be the fastest-growing area in EMEA, rising by a 12 per cent CAGR with double-digit growth expected in Internet and access spending, radio and out- of-home advertising, TV distribution, TV networks and video games.

    “During the next five years, TV distribution, Internet advertising and access spending, and casino and other regulated gaming will continue to record double-digit increases, as will video games for the EMEA region,” said PricewaterhouseCoopers Entertainment & Media practice European Leader John Middelweerd. “The sports market will also see a further boost due to a revitalized TV rights market and by revenues from sponsorship and merchandising around the two FIFA World Cups (Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010) and other major sporting events taking part in the territory.”

    Asia Pacific remains the fastest-growing region, led by explosive growth in the People’s Republic of China and IndiaSpending in Asia Pacific will average 9.2 per cent compound annual growth-the highest of all of the regions- reaching $425 billion in 2010. Latin America’s E&M market, the fastest growing region in 2005, is projected to rise at an 8.5 per cent CAGR to $60 billion in 2010. Canada is projected to expand at a 5.9 per cent CAGR to $41 billion in 2010, with double-digit growth in video games and the return of the NHL boosting its sports market.

    Key Findings by Segment – Internet Advertising and Access and Video Games to be Fastest-Growing

    Internet Advertising and Access: Increased broadband access will be principal driver of future growth, but it will come at the expense of dial-up spending in the U.S., EMEA and Canada. Internet advertising is growing rapidly, stimulated by an expanding broadband subscriber base and ad formats geared to broadband, including keyword search and full-motion video. Triple- play service bundles that combine broadband Internet access with telephone service and television distribution are making broadband increasingly attractive. Globally, Internet advertising will grow to $51.6 billion at an 18.1 per cent CAGR and Internet access will increase to $214 billion at an 11.9 per cent CAGR.

    Video Games: The video game market was in a transition year in 2005, awaiting the introduction of the next-generation consoles. Growth slumped to 3.3 per cent , the slowest increase during the past five years. The next generation of consoles and recently introduced handheld games will spur the console/handheld market in the U.S., EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Canada, while PC games will continue to decline or see little growth in the U.S. and EMEA. The introduction of new wireless phones capable of downloading games will boost the wireless game market in the US, EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Canada. Overall, the video game market will expand at an 11.4 per cent CAGR to $46 billion in 2010 from $27 billion in 2005.

    Casino and Other Regulated Gaming: Casino and other regulated gaming rose by 10.9 per cent, the second fastest growing segment in 2005. Rapid growth in online gaming and new casinos will propel growth, with Asia Pacific expected to experience the largest increase because new casinos in Macao will make that portion of the People’s Republic of China a major casino gaming destination. Spending will increase from $82 billion in 2005 to $125 billion in 2010, an 8.8 per cent CAGR.

    Television Distribution: Saturated markets will continue to dampen growth in the U.S. and will hold down growth in Canada as well. Conversely, in EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, large increases in the number of subscription TV households will generate double-digit gains. Continued piracy problems in Asia Pacific, however, will limit market potential in that region. Video-on- demand will expand in all regions, contributing to overall market growth. The introduction of IPTV will contribute to subscriber growth, and the migration of subscribers to higher-priced digital services will increase revenue per subscriber. The market will reach $230.3 
    billion in 2010 from $154.4 billion in 2005, at an 8.3 per cent CAGR.

    Television Networks (Broadcast and Cable): Digital platforms will support new channels and fuel multi-channel advertising, which will be the principal driver during the next five years. New analog channels, digital broadcasting, and HDTV will increase the appeal of free-to-air channels.
    Distribution to mobile phones will further expand viewing and advertising. Public TV license fees in EMEA and Asia Pacific will continue to be slow-growing components of the market. Spending will increase at 6.6 per cent CAGR to reach $227 billion in 2010 from $164 billion in 2005.

    Filmed Entertainment: While filmed entertainment declined in 2005, we expect a rebound in box office spending and introduction of high-definition DVDs to boost home video. Decreases at the box office and a sharp slowdown in home video spending caused the downturn. Box office spending rebound will be triggered by the construction of modern theaters and more screens in Central and Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, and by digital cinemas in the United States, EMEA, and Asia Pacific. Spending will increase at a 5.3 per cent CAGR, rising to $104 billion in 2010.

    Recorded Music: Growth in digital distribution and mobile music will drive spending in each market, offsetting further declines in spending on physical formats. Rising broadband subscribership will continue to fuel digital distribution, while an expanding wireless universe and upgrades to next generation wireless networks will foster mobile music growth. Globally, recorded music spending will rise at a 5.2 per cent CAGR to $47.9 billion in 2010. Spending in the US will rise to $14.7 billion in 2010, at a 3.7 per cent CAGR. The Outlook also includes in-depth global analyses and five-year market forecasts for seven other industry segments, including: radio and out-of-home advertising, business information, magazine publishing, newspaper publishing, book publishing, theme parks and amusement parks, and sports.

  • Broadcast Bill: CAS law out, addressable systems in

    Broadcast Bill: CAS law out, addressable systems in

    MUMBAI: If the proposed Broadcast Bill 2006 does become law, it will not just be the requirement of a licence to operate that the cable fraternity will have to grapple with.

    The other worrying aspect of the Broadcasting Services Regulation Bill 2006, for the MSOs in particular, is the fact that conditional access systems (CAS) has no place in the Bill’s scheme of things. If the proposed Bill, which is presently being circulated among members of the Union Cabinet, does become law, it effectively means that there will be no rollout of CAS in India. At least as far as the way it was originally mandated (a timebound rollout first the metros and then further afield) is concerned.

    The cable industry is presently regulated by the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995. This Act will automatically stand subsumed if (and that’s a BIG if) Parliament signs the Broadcast Bill into an Act of law. What this will mean also is that SEC 4A, the section through which CAS was introduced, would also get deleted.

    Interestingly, there is a “savings clause” provided in the proposed Bill that protects CAS where it has already been implemented. Since Chennai is the only metro that is CAS-delivered, it could well end up being the only CAS market in the country.

    The thinking of the information and broadcasting ministry mandarins on CAS comes through quite clearly in the wording that the draft Bill uses. It talks of the need to introduce a modified version of CAS that is “more consumer friendly” that it calls Addressable Systems.And the road map for addressability is through going digital. The Bill proposes to progressively introduce addressable systems from a specified date with a cut-off date to complete the changeover from analogue to digital. And rather than a mandated CAS rollout, the Bill sees addressability coming in as a natural fallout of the phasing out of analogue and the gradual switchover to digital – a process that is going on in many markets across the globe.

    An enabling clause in the Bill that eases the switchover to digital is also seen as allowing enough flexibility to make suitable changes or amendments where required.

    The draft Broadcast Bill, which calls for the setting up of a separate Broadcast Regulatory Authority of India (Brai), has covered four major areas in its ambit, which include content, cross media ownership, subscriptions and live sports feeds (which are already part of the downlink norms).